Apparatus for raising sunken vessels.



F1 W. yPF i'\3DER(/\ST. APPARATUS FOR BASING SUNKEN VESSELS. APPLICATION FILED xuLY 18.1918.

1,293,990. Patented B91111919,

i7* faQ//Syz FREDERICK -W. PENDERGAST, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

Application lled July 18, 1918.Y Serial No. 245,541.

T0 all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. FENDER- GAsT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates' to van apparatus comprising an elongated weighted cable adapted to be adjusted to surround a portion of the hull of a submerged vessel, and inflatable raising means, preferably embodied in a plurality of air-tight iniiatable bags engaged with the cable and adapted to bear on side portions of the hull above the cable. The invention is embodied in the improved means hereinafter described, for drawing portions of the cable ,toward each other and lconfining said portions to form an inexpansible cradle closely embracing the lower portion of the hull, the said cradle being formed and maintained in aninexpansible condition prior to the inflation of the said bags, so that the bags when inated, are securely connectedy with the hull and adapted to raise the same Vfrom the bottom of a body of water of considerable depth.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention, the cable being shown in position to partly form a cradle.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the end portions of the cable drawn toward each other to form an inexpansible cradle.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of a hull, showing the apparatus of my invention engaged with the hull, and as it appears before inflation.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the raising means inflated.

Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the two pulley blocks hereinafter described.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig.v 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing rthe other of the two pulley blocks.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view ofl a diiferent embodiment of the invention including only one pulley block.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-.9 of Flg. 1.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings, referring first to Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, 12 represents an elongated weighted cable, preferably composed of chain links.

` With the cable is associated a Suitable raislng means, here shown as embodied in a plurality of inflatable bags 13 (Fig. 2), each bag being inclosed in a sheath 14: of strong woven fabric, each sheath being preferably woven 1n cyllndrical or tubular form, from relatively heavy cord or rope, the ends of the tubular fabric being suitably closed over opposite ends of the rubber bag 13. Portions ofthe cable 12 pass through the sheaths 14, said sheaths and bags being flattened, as indicated by Figs. 1, 2 and 3, when the bags are deflated, the cable passing through the lower portion of each sheath and between the sheath and the lower portion of the accompanying bag 13. When the apparatus is submerged, the weight of the cable causes it to rest onvthe bottom of a body of water, the bags containing sucient air to cause the bags and'sheaths to project vupwardly from the cable.

Each bag may be inflated through a tube 16 connected with its upper portion and extending to and above the surface of the water in which the apparatus is submerged.

The cable and its raising means may be dropped into the water while the cable is substantially straight, and allowed to sink until the midlength of the cable is in suitable proXimity to either the bow or stern of a submerged vessel. The cable is then adjusted to swing the'por-tions provided with the raising means inwardly toward opposite sides o-f the keel 20 of the vessel, the position of the keel being indicated the straight dotted line in Figs. 1 and 2. When the cable isadjusted as shown by Fig 1, the portions which rest on the bottom diverge from each other. The end portions of the cable are neXt brought into close proximity to each other as shown by Fig. 2, and confined to cause the portions resting on the bottom to extend beside the keel at opposite side thereof.

The apparatus above described is set forth and claimed in my application liled May 7, 1918, Serial No. 233,014.v

To the opposite ends of the cable 12 are hinged or jointed the inner ends of elongated pulley blocksv21. Said blocks and the cable 12 constitute a cradle which, when operatively adjusted, is practically continuous and ineXpansible, and closely embraces the coA lower portion -of the hull. Each block 21 is adapted at its inner end, by means of an apertured ear 21a, to be hinged or jointed to one end of the cable ll2.` In Kthe outerend of each block is journaled a pulley 22, the periphery of which isA serrated to mesh with the links of a cradle-closing chain 28.

The central portionofthe chain 23 passes from block t0 block, and theend portions are adapted to extend upwardly from the blocks to a scow orpontoon .andbeengaged with hoisting means thereon. llVhenfthe' upstanding portions of thechan23 Aarepulled upward, thev pulley blocks lare .frstjswung upwardly from the cable 12 as shown'by Figyl, andthenthe y,ends ,ofthe cable :12 are'drawn toward each .other kuntil ythe blocks meet, as kshown .by lFig. 2, which shows the blocks as wthey ,appear after .the Aupward pull is released, ,and theblo'clrs .are allowed to swing downwardly. I.The pulleys are freely rotatable inthe .directions required to permit lthe described operation;

One-way clutches .are provided `to prevent rotation of the :pulleys in `directions required tol permit the separation ,of vthe blocks and the ends ofthe cabl`efl2, or,-i'nother words,

the opening of the cradle. VSaid clutches are preferably embodied ,in radial ratchet teeth V 25 formed on the uppersidesorfaces of thev pulleys 22, and 'pawls,26, Ipivoted at 27 to ears Yon the '3 blocks, and pressed V,bysprings 28 into engagement with the ratchetedfaces of thegpulleys. The ratchet. teeth 0n one pulley face ko'jgpositely from those on the other pulley, as may befseen by comparing Fig. Y6 with Figg 7,150 that the pawl on one block prevents rotation of Ithe accompanying ,pulley in 'the direction of arrow m, whilethe lpawl l.on the other block prevents rotation of .the .accompanying pulley vin the direction of arrow y.

I have provided means operable from ,an elevated point, as -Von la iioa'ting scow,ifor separating the said clutch parts, and permitting yfree rotation ofthe tpulleys 1n the directions required to .permit separation of theends of thecradle 12, andthe expansion Y ofthe cradle rformed thereby, said means being embodied in pull cords '30V connected with .the pawls'26 and adaptedto extend to a scow on the surface.

When the cradle 4cable is confined, ,as ydescribed, the inflatablebags and their sheaths bear on the sides of the hull and are ready for inflation. The capacity o'f .the bagsfis such that .when they are inflated, as :indicatedby Fig. 4,they are adapted -to raise the vessel to the surface. iWhen .the bags are inflated the inner sides of the 4Sheaths conform to overhanging portions of the sides of the'hull, so that'faneflicient ,lifting action is exerted, ,without involving severe strain on the cable. n y

The cable may be composed of separably .the ends of i-the sheath. ''Iliefadjacent ends of the sections may be separably connected v`by""links` 31, eachv composed of separably unitedrmembers. Provision is thus made --lfor connecting any desiredfnumber of bags and sheaths .to form an apparatus of any desired length. 'Itis obvious, however, that the number of bags ,and .,Sllcaths imay be variously ,modified For .'example, there maybeonly ,two,elongatedibagaeach formed to extend vpractically the,e`ntire length of thevessel. Y 'i r'.Ihe ,apparatus may ,be lcarried Yon a .vessel and l'used Ito'. lreepit afloat,`.. incas e ,of any injury by aV torpedo, orEv otherwise, thecable and ,bags being .folded xbelow :theV lIalil V`oir-.the outer side andloweredinto the water ,incase 0f emergency, .the ,cable .being adjusted .las above described, ,.toffolim "an vljpallSilOll cradle embracing the lower tportion of the hull. When .the l,bags are inflated, -the apparatus preventsthe sir'ilring ofthe-vessel.

#,Oynly A,one rpulley ',blQCk V21 may `be provided, vas shown by glig.',8,Qthe1ldlock being hingedv to one end of the cradlecable'ly2, and said cable beingprovided fwith an `extenf'sion l2a engagrn the ,Serrat-ed@ .pu11ey'22 of said block.' Sai' Aextension isadapt'edito extend upwardly to a scojw on the su'ifa'ce.V ,An upward pull vG11-.the .extension YlZVhas the `,same effect as Van 11p-Ward ,pull vexerted von the .end

portions oftheichain'23, the portion ofthe cable 12 to which the *pulley `block lis attached, and the portion joining theextension l2, 'being 'drawntowardeach other, andprevented from separating by 'the clutch formed'by the ratchet teeth of Athey single pulley and the pvawlvonl thegblocl; Lthereof.

In each ofthe described embodiments of the invention, vthe elongated pu'lley" blockf is jointed to an end of an elongated cable,,and constitutes anextensionof the cable. fllhe cable and the block or blocks .associated therewith are adapted to 'ibe formed as .described into abightfby acontracting chain extending to a distant pointand yadapted t0 be moved vorpulled to form a contr-acted bight which includes'theelongated cableand the' block or"blocks.associated therewith. 'It will also .be seen that Lthebight is"confined against expansionby the serrated pulleyor pulleysand the one-way clutch 0r clutches engaging "said pulley, the vpulley off each block 'being ,atthe outer end of :the block, so that a pull lexerted on the contractingchain swings the block inthe direction required to closethebight. y

I claim: Y

l. In an apparatus ofthe character stated, in combination, anelongated cable, 'elongated Apulley blocks yjointed at'their inner ends to the opposite ends :of the cable 'and constituting cable extensions, said cable and blocks being adapted to form a bight, serrated pulleys journaled in the outer ends of said blocks, a contracting chain meshing With serrations of saidpulleys, the central portion of said chain extending from block to block, and its end portions being adapted to be moved to'bring the outer ends of the pulley -blocks together and thus form a contracted bight, and one-Way clutches including members carried by the pulley blocks, and complemental members carried by the pulleys, adapted to lock `the pulleys against rotation permitting the expansion of the bight.

2. In an apparatus of the character stated, in combination, an elongated cable, elongated pulley blocks jointed at their inner ends to the opposite ends of the cable, and constituting cable extensions, said cable and blocks being adapted to form a bight, serrated pulleys jo-urnaled in the outer ends of said blocks, a contracting chain meshing With serrations of said pulleys, the central portion of said chain extending from block to block and its end portions being adapted to be moved to bring the outer ends of the pulley blocks together and thus form a contracted bight, one-Way clutches including members carried by the pulley blocks, and complemental members carried by the pulleys, adapted to lock the pulleys against rotation permitting the opening of the cradle, and means operable from a distant point Jfor disengaging the clutch members on the pulley blocks from the clutch members on the pulleys to permit the expansion of the bight. I

3. In an apparatus of the character stated, in combination, an elongated cable, elongated pulley blocks jointed at their inner ends to the opposite ends of the cable, and constituting cable extensions, said cable and blocks being adapted to form a bight, serrated pulleys journaled in the outer ends of said blocks, a contracting chain meshing With serrations of said pulleys, the central portion of said chain extending from block to block and its end portions being adapted to be moved to bring the outer-ends of the pul- Y leyy blocks together and thus form a contracted bight, the pulleys being provided with ratchet teeth constituting members of one-Way clutches, and spring-pressed dogs pivoted to the pulley blocks and constitut ing complemental members of said clutches adapted to engage said ratchet teeth and lock the pulleys against rotation permitting the expansion of the bight.

4. In an apparatus of the character stated, in combination, an elongated cable, elongated pulley blocks jointed at their inner ends to the opposite ends of the cable, and constituting cable extensions, said cable and blocks being adapted to form a bight, serrated pulleys journaled in the outer ends of said blocks, a contracting chain meshing with serrations of said pulleys, the central portion of said chain extending from block to block and its end portions being adapted to be moved to bring the outer ends of the pulley blocks together and thus form a contracted bight, the pulleys being provided with ratchet teeth constituting members of one-Way clutches, spring-pressed dogs pivoted to the pulley blocks and constituting complemental members of said clutches adapted to engage said ratchet teeth and lock the pulleys against rotation permitting the expansion of the cable, and pull cords attached to said dogs and adapted to disengage the dogs from ratchet teeth on the pulleys.

5. In an apparatus of the character stated, a bight element comprising an elongated pulley block having an ear at its inner end formed to be jointed to an end of a bightforming cable of Which the block constitutes an extension, and provided at its outer end With a serrated pulley adapted to mesh With links of a contracting chain, the said block and pulley being provided With complemental members of a one-Way clutch adapted to lock the pulley against rotation in one direction, and thereby prevent the expansion gf al.; bight which includes the cable and 6. In an apparatus of the character stated,

with a serrated pulley adapted to mesh With links of a contracting chain, the said block and pulley being provided With complemental members of a one-Way clutch adapted to lock the pulley against rotation in one direction, and thereby prevent the expansion of a bight Which includes the cable and block, means operable from a distant point being provided for disengaging said clutch members to permit the expansion of said bight.

7. In an apparatus of the character stated, a bight element comprising an elongated pulley block having an ear at its inner end formed to be jointed to an end of a bightforming cable, of Which the block constitutes an extension, and provided at its outer end With a serrated pulley adapted to mesh With links of a contracting chain, one side of the pulley being provided With ratchet teeth, and a spring-pressed dog pivoted to the block and adapted to engage one of said ratchet teeth to lock the pulley against rotation in one direction, and thereby prevent the expansion of a bight Which includes the cable and block.

8. In an apparatus of the character stated, a bight element comprising an elongated pulley block having an ear at its inner end 

